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Post by greekslav on Dec 19, 2007 23:31:07 GMT -5
...that the word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek word gymnazein which means "to exercise naked."
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 0:07:09 GMT -5
....that for the Greeks, law was what separated men from animals (and from women) and was the basis of civilization.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 0:14:19 GMT -5
.....that originally the Greeks had no laws at all. This worked fine for the Greeks for a time because there were not too many people, each had a substantial amount of land and they didn't bother each other much. When they did bother each other they took care of their legal problems themselves, including killing each other.
As the number of Greeks grew, and the size of Greece didn't, this killing started to create its own problems. The biggest of these was revenge. When someone killed your brother, you would have to kill him, and his brother would have to kill you and so on. This is a period of time when rules started emerging in ancient Greece.
The first rule we know of in this period was to deal with this problem of revenge. That rule was that if you murdered someone you would be exiled (to be exiled is to be kicked out of your town, and never let back in). The Greeks liked this rule, but it didn't do much to deal with the problem of why everyone was killing each other in the first place, so one day maybe a couple of smart Greeks who were having an argument took their problem to someone they thought was wise. This person gave them an objective view of the situation, and his advise. It is important to note that the Greeks didn't have to follow this advice, but generally did, because it was good advice. This started a trend, and most Greeks began to seek this sort of resolution to their arguments.
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Post by Teuta1975 on Dec 20, 2007 0:20:40 GMT -5
This "law" still exists in Albania nowdays. Is called "Gjakmarrje" (revenge of blood)/ Is an archetype I believe because one finds the same "tradition" in Sicily (South Italy)
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 0:22:22 GMT -5
Yes, you are right. Does this come from the Greeks?
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 1:40:30 GMT -5
...that Greeks built lighthouses, canals, tunnels, steam engines, pumps, presses, astronomical calculators, clocks, and automata. They really did not need all this because they had plenty of manpower to call on in slaves. But their inspiration was the pursuit of pure knowledge, rather than economic gain. This was why harnessing the energy they created was of little consequence to the ancient engineers.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 1:44:33 GMT -5
....that Archimedes formulated mathematical concepts that were 2000 years ahead of the his time.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 2:12:56 GMT -5
....that one of the laws of Gortyn (Crete), c. 450 BCE, read that
"If one be taken in adultery with a free woman in her father=s, brother=s, or husband=s house, he shall pay 100 staters, but if in another=s house, fifty; and with the wife of an apetairos, ten. But if a slave with a free woman, he shall pay double, but if a slave with a slave=s wife, five. . ."
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 2:23:25 GMT -5
...that the frieze of the Parthenon is one of the first to depict common people along with the Gods, reflecting the Greek love and belief in democratic principles.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 3:14:21 GMT -5
....that Greek guys smoke as if is their last day on earth…and smoke only Marlboros.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 3:17:58 GMT -5
....that Greek women dye their hair an obvious fake shade of blonde that is nonexistent in nature and swear that it's natural.
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Post by myzeqari on Dec 20, 2007 8:20:03 GMT -5
......that there is a country just north of Greece called FYROM in which it is totally populated by imbeciles?
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rex362
Senior Moderator
Pellazg
PELASGIANILLYROALBANIAN
Posts: 19,058
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Post by rex362 on Dec 20, 2007 11:08:08 GMT -5
very informative GS
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Kanaris
Amicus
This just in>>>> Nobody gives a crap!
Posts: 9,589
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Post by Kanaris on Dec 20, 2007 11:18:31 GMT -5
I think Gran Sport is an imposter.... I might be wrong and I have been wrong in the past...if I am ,I apologise... ;D
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rex362
Senior Moderator
Pellazg
PELASGIANILLYROALBANIAN
Posts: 19,058
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Post by rex362 on Dec 20, 2007 11:20:50 GMT -5
.....no Canaris ...I know what your thinking ....has nothing to do with my Buick ;D do your ip magic... also.... these dots ........ are my signature ..... but anybody can use ..it must be the Macedonian in...us .....
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 12:32:52 GMT -5
...that there is a Greek superstition with crows, seen as a bad omen, often foretelling death.
Upon seeing Crows cawing, it is believed that the Crows are announcing the death of an individual. Greeks believing in this superstition will often say to the birds, "Go on your way, and bring me good news."
They're cawing is what is most feared, as it is seen as an announcement of a death that is soon to be heard! A death of an individual that is likely to be close.
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 12:37:34 GMT -5
....that another Greek supersitition involves little demons or goblins called Kalikatzaroi that come on the earth for twelve days beginning on Christmas and ending their visit on Epiphany. They are thought to not commit any major harm to humanity other than carrying on mischievous pranks. The crimes that they commit are usually quite minor such as riding on a persons back, or extinguishing fires. Around this time period scratches on the walls or fire places are considered to foretell the presence of these little men.
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Kanaris
Amicus
This just in>>>> Nobody gives a crap!
Posts: 9,589
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Post by Kanaris on Dec 20, 2007 12:41:20 GMT -5
Yep..we got those little superstitions ..along with the evil eye...
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Post by Emperor AAdmin on Dec 20, 2007 12:49:41 GMT -5
GS, I am really enjoying reading these facts and if you have more keep on posting them. I am happy to see you in these forums. PS: Montenegrins also still have blood feuds (now, in desolate villages mainly), evil eye superstition, black crow superstition, Montenegrin guys also smoke as if is their last day on earth (+ only Marlboros), fake blond shade = and swearing on it - also same thing, etc. PS2: BTW in retrospect, crows are fascinating, inventive and highly intelligent birds whose life spans in terms of years rivals human one. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow#Intelligence
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Post by greekslav on Dec 20, 2007 12:52:08 GMT -5
As I find interesting facts about Greeks in my library, I will post them. Thanks. Note: Not all will be on a positive note, but nevertheless, will be true.
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